Julian hires Aelath?ha and tells him to join the Protectorate in the morning.Aelath?ha sees a ragged and tired party enter the inn and retire for the evening.

Sythus [Spring]Valley Year 237Duthash Dracum Fehy [14 May]

Morning:Aelath?ha introduces himself to the Protectorate.He sits down with Sayer and Maal and eats breakfast.Jarmok arrives and the group leaves.They follow the path out of the town towards the keep.Jarmok takes the lead, scouting ahead.Sayer, Dale & Maal explain the details of the destination to the new recruit.

Mid-Day:Arrive at the keep.Jarmok notes that the ogres did not leave the keep by the same path (there are no exiting tracks).Jarmok & Laren scout around the outside of the keep, while the others wait around.

They can see two ogres throwing bodies off of the cliff down to the river and report back.

Plan attack:Laren, Dale & Sayer will attack from north through gate.Maal & Ragnor will attack from the east.Jarmok & Aelath?ha will attack from the west.

Laren will initiate attack on the ogres with sneak attack with bow.Others will follow from their positions.

Sayer rolls his bones for a reading.Results are favorable [each character receives a +2 bonus on any one roll].The group spreads out, taking their positions.

Enter the keep (marching order is as follows):LarenJarmokMaalDaleRagnorAelath?haSayer

You open the door and a trace stench comes from beyond. ahead is a set of stone stairs descending into dusky darkness.the weak glow of light reflects off of the musty stone worked walls revealing a landing at the bottom of the stairs.

Around the landing the stairs continue. The ceiling above the stairs slopes with the angle of the stairs but not enough for you to be unable to see that the stairs end at a flat. shodows can be seen moving about but you are unable to distinguish any features.

Descend stairs.Stairs widen. There are two short corridors leading off to either side.Laren & Jarmok enter and attack Zombie Trogs in passages.

Looking down the stairs, the group can see and opening overlooking the river.

A door is chosen and Jarmok opens it.

You open the door and a glowing purple mist billows out enveloping all of you. Within the room you see six figures in the room. the figures are half eaten and their eyes are rolled to the top just below their eyelids. Their bellies have been ripped out and bloody gore hangs from their chest cavity. You see that there are two shorter individuals that appear to have been children. the other four look to have been common adults but with the lacerations and tears all over their bodies it's a bit hard to tell.

Aelath?ha and Dale breath in the purple mist [temp loss of Con]

6 undead figures approach the doorway4 adults and 2 children (the missing dead folk from the mines!)They are each missing several teeth!

round 4Aelath?ha hitsJarmok hitsMaal hits with antlers destroying last one

On the west end of the room is a large marble statue of a magnificent dragon.The statue is augmented with platinum highlighting the edges and ridgesof the dragon. The head of the dragon has been defaced and placed upon where the face should be is a large symbol with eyes at each point of a pentagram.

In front of the statue ia a large carved altar with dried rivers of blood creeping down the edges. The legs of the altar are carved wingless dragons reared up holding the altar with their front legs. On the altar are three naked bodies. the bodies have no injuries on them with the exception od a large hole cut in their chest where their heart should be. On one end of the altar is a large obsidian bowl with a soft angled rim. the outside of the bowl is etched with various symbols and inlaid with silver. In the bowl are three piles of ashes.

Upon the walls of the room are a multitude of exquisite reliefs in marble and inlaid with platinum. The ceiling is vaulted from corner to corner with cryptic divine symbols on the dome above.

On the north wall are two doors at opposite ends of the room.

2 doors on north wallseveral folks listen at the doorsnothing is heard

Jarmok opens the east door

Opening the door you see that there is a 10' foyer leading into a 20'x20' room. In the room are two beds, chests, and desks. the frames of the beds appear to be in good condition. Both of the mattresses are musty and stripped down. the lids of the chests are opened and the chests are empty. The desks are also in good condition as are the pushed in chairs that accompany them. the tops of the desk are bare and there are 2 drawers on either side of both desks.

Laren finds a hidden compartment in floorhe detects no traps and opens ita poison dart fires past himhe finds a small chesthe opens the chest and finds 2 scrolls and a ringthe desks are searched and three sheets of paper and three ink wells are found.

Dale investigates area and is able to determine that this temple was converted to temple of Takhisis from a temple of Paladine

Jarmok opens west door

Opening the door you see that there is a 10' foyer leading into a 20'x20' room. In the room are two beds, chests, and desks. the frames of the beds appear to be in good condition. One of the beds has been stripped down and the other appears to have been in use. Opposite of the used bed, upon the wall is a symbol resempling the one hanging on the statue in the temple. the lids of the chests are opened and the chests are empty. One of the desks has the chair pushe in and the other is angled out. The tops of the desk are bare and there are 2 drawers on either side of both desks.

Jarmok searches room for tracks/activityit has recently been occupiedLaren searches/ransacks roomLaren finds another compartment in the floor herehe finds no trap and opens it cautiouslyhe finds a coffer containing 5 vials

retreat back out to stairsJarmok opens other doorhallwayturns to right (south) and angles leftdoor on north wallsouth corridor (right turn) ends in doorleft angle opens into chamberJarmok opens north door:

Opening the door you see a 10' foyer leading into a 20'x20' room. The room looks to have been burned out long ago. along the walls are piles of cinders. soot lines the walls and ceiling and placed about the room are six burned orc skeletons.

follow south passageopening on right

The room open to the hallway has many tables and benches thrown aside to the walls. Many arrows stick out from the wood furniture and several of the skeletons that were once on the ground have been tossed upon the wood rubble. A few tables and benches look to have been in recent use with the ornamentation of dirty plates and utensils.

continue on to south door

Beyond the door you see a kitchen. There is a cooking hearth with many pans and pots scattered about. A soot covered chimney is cut into the stone wall and extends up.

Laren searchesexit on left:

This is a 20'x20' room filled with barrels and crates. it looks to be a pantry and storeroom for the kitchen. the stores are young and the containers speak of an age much younger than the rest of the trappings in the underground.

Dale removes stoppers on kegs draining the liquid onto the floor

leave and check out north chamber

This open entry room is lined with empty cobwebbed weapon racks. At the end of the room are target bails with multiple holes in them. The floor is smattered with bones speaking of a battle long over. The skeletons are that of humans, dwarves, and orcs. Hanging in the room is a purple cloud. within the cloud are 8 short upright skeltons with battle axes sporting a thin skin of rust.

8 dwarven skeletons in old chainmail approach

round 1Laren attacks with club - missesskeleton misses Aelath?haDale missesAelath?ha missesskeleton misses Ragnorbattleaxe bounces off Maal?s shieldskeleton misses JarmokJarmok missesanother skeleton misses MaalMaal attracts two attacks off opportunity as she grabs a heavy maceRagnor is missed on attack of opportunityRagnor grabs a mace from the wallSayer moves to safety

round 2Laren withdraws out through the doorAelath?ha is missedDale withdraws out through the doorMaal is hit for 5Aelath?ha withdrawsJarmok blocks with his shieldMaal is hit againMaal tells Jarmok to retreat - she will cover the their retreatJarmok holds action and tells Maal to go firstMaal again tells Jarmok to go and attacks - missesJarmok ignores her request and attacks and hitsRagnor uses energy missile to launch a firebomb - it explodes and damages a few, but none fallJarmok is missedSayer withdraws

round 3Dale gets an empty barrel from the pantry and rolls it towards the armoryJarmok is missedMaal is missedMaal is hit and falls to the floor unconscious [crit for 16]Jarmok quickly feeds Maal a potion, inviting several attacks of opportunity, but he is missed every timeMaal recovers and regains her feet [9 hp]Ragnor controls object on a mace and flings it at a skeleton, hitting it in the head [3]

round 4Jarmok is nickedMaal is missedJarmok is missedMaal is missedDale yells out a warning to Jarmok, Maal and Ragnor as he gets the barrel into position.Maal finally withdraws (knowing that they are hopelessly outmatched and realizing that Jarmok is too stubborn to go first).Aelath?ha withdraws.Jarmok withdraws, but doesn?t pass Ragnor, as they retreat up the corridor.Dale waits to roll the barrel.Maal and Jarmok pass Dale (and Jarmok passes Ragnor who stops to help Dale).Dale and Ragnor roll the barrel at the skeletons.The barrel rolls over the skeletons and Dale and Ragnor retreat.